Commentary: Lessons learned in first year as School Board member

Stephanie Lucarelli, a candidate for Collier County School Board, Dist. 2, answers a question while participating in an election forum in the Naples Daily News studio on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in North Naples. Candidates Stephanie Lucarelli, Louise Penta, Erick Carter and Lee Dixon participated in the forum.(Photo: David Albers/Naples Daily News)Buy Photo

It’s been one year since I took my seat as a Collier County School Board member, so I have been reflecting on what I have learned about being an effective board member and practicing good governance.

Through a variety of trainings provided by the Florida School Boards Association, as well as district personnel, I understand better than before I was elected the distinction between the role of the School Board and the role of the superintendent.

As a board, we set district policy, discuss and approve the strategic plan, and monitor the fiscal and academic performance of our schools.

We hire and periodically evaluate the performance of the superintendent, but we are not responsible for the daily operations of the schools or the administrators. The superintendent runs the district. If a board member becomes aware of an operational problem, she or he should promptly inform the superintendent and ask her to address it.

I have learned that preparing for a board meeting means not only reading all relevant materials and carefully considering the issues to be decided, but also doing my own research and making use of my weekly meetings with the superintendent to ask my questions and share my concerns ahead of time.

If she is able to answer my questions, I can more fully evaluate the facts before the meeting. And if she is aware of my concerns, the superintendent can research and have relevant staff available to address them at the meeting if necessary.

Another thing that I have learned is that to make credible recommendations to improve our schools requires truly knowing what is going on inside of them and how our policies trickle down to them. In the past year, I have visited 48 of our schools and talked with parents, teachers, students, volunteers and community members from around the county. I have identified areas of strength as well as ones where we can improve, and I also continually assess how the majority of people feel about our schools.

I have been impressed with the commitment of the district’s leaders, principals, teachers, support staff, parents and community members to increasing student achievement throughout the district, from our top learners clear through to our struggling learners.

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Florida Voices tells the stories of everyday Floridians, examining what issues matter most to them in the Sunshine State.

While celebrating becoming an A-rated school district and the fact that more than 50 of our schools either maintained or improved their school grade, no one is resting on their laurels. Everyone is focused on how to improve even more this year … and that is how it should be.

I have learned that being a good board member means being a good team player. I may not always agree with what my fellow board members say, and I don’t think I should, but if I continue to be willing to listen, be respectful, encourage open dialogue, be mindful of my roles and responsibilities, and keep Collier’s children the focus of my decision making, I know I will continue to be headed in the right direction.

We have a terrific district full of eager students, committed employees, and caring parents and community members. I’ve learned a lot since my election to the School Board, and as a new year gets underway, I look forward to working with my fellow board members to make our School Board and our school district the best that it can be.

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